---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 2736c"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "2736c"
heading: "Professional development opportunities and tools"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/2736c"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Department of State"
---

# §2736c. Professional development opportunities and tools

- (a) **Expand provision of professional development and career advancement opportunities—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) is authorized to expand professional development opportunities that [support](/usc/22/7432.md?p=12) the mission needs of the Department, such as—
    - (A) academic programs;
    - (B) private-public exchanges; and
    - (C) detail assignments to relevant positions in—
      - (i) private or international organizations;
      - (ii) State, local, and Tribal governments;
      - (iii) other branches of the Federal Government; or
      - (iv) professional schools of international affairs.
  - (2) **Training for senior positions—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) shall offer, or sponsor members of the workforce to participate in, a Senior Executive Service candidate development program or other program that trains members on the skills required for appointment to senior positions in the Department.
    - (B) **Requirements—** In determining which members of the workforce are granted professional development or career advancement opportunities under [subparagraph (A)](#a-2-A), the [Secretary](/usc/22/277d–43.md?p=5) shall—
      - (i) ensure any program offered or sponsored by the Department under such subparagraph comports with the requirements of subpart C of part [412](/usc/5/412.md) of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto, including merit staffing and assessment requirements;
      - (ii) consider the number of expected vacancies in senior positions as a factor in determining the number of candidates to select for such programs;
      - (iii) understand how participation in any program offered or sponsored by the Department under such subparagraph differs by gender, race, national origin, disability status, or other demographic categories; and
      - (iv) actively encourage participation from a range of demographic categories, especially from categories with consistently low participation.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–81, div. E, title LIV, § 5405, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2373.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Definitions

For definitions of “Secretary” and “Department” as used in this section, see section 5002 of Pub. L. 117–81, set out as a note under section 263c of this title.